Science Facts
Physics, chemistry and how the natural world works.
About 90 Percent of People Struck by Lightning Survive
Only about 10 percent of people who are struck by lightning are killed.
Every Snowflake Has Six Sides
Snowflakes are six-sided: although their arms can branch in many ways, the six-sided shape is always maintained.
Earth's Tilt, Not Its Distance From the Sun, Causes Seasons
Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons; in the Northern Hemisphere it is winter when Earth is closest to the Sun.
Thunder Can Be Heard Only About 10 Miles Away
Thunder is the sound caused by a nearby flash of lightning, and it can be heard for a distance of only about 10 miles from the strike.
Lightning Is About Five Times Hotter Than the Surface of the Sun
Lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, about five times hotter than the surface of the Sun.